SPORTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1928, Page 6

SPORTING

RACING FIXTURES.

Dec. B—Taumarunui R.C. _ Dec. s—Ashburton County R.C. Dec. 12, 13 —Woodville J.C. Dec. 14, 15—Oamaru J.C. Deci 26, 27—Westland R.C. Dec.. 27, 27—Taranaki J.C. Dec. 26, 27—Dunedin J.C. Dec. 26, 28—Chatham Island R.C.

Annual. Dec. 26, 28, Jan. 1, 2—Auckland R.C.

Summer. Jan. 12— Wairarapa R.C. Jan. 12—Stratford R.C. Jan. 1, 2—Hawke’s Bay J.C.

TROTTING FIXTURES.

Dec. B—Waikato8 —Waikato T.C. Dec. B—Cheviot T.C. Dec. 15, 17—New Brighton T.C. Dec. 26—Gore T.C. Dec. 26, 27—South Wairarapa. Dec. 26, 27—Westport T.C. Dec. 27, 29, 31 —Auckland T-C. Dec. 29—Winton T.C. Dec. 31—Inangahua T.C. Jan. l n 2—Canterbury Park T.C.

OAMARU JOCKEY CLUB.

(Per Press Association.)

OAMARU, Decembei’ 6Oamaru J.C. acceptances for the first day of its midsummer meeting, on Friday, December 14, are as follow : — Initial Hurdles Handicap, miles — Carinthia 10.9, Rangitahi 9.3, Pantier, Gayoma, Shandre 9.0The Shorts, 5 furlongs.—Colonel Quex, Captivate, Pink Coat, Sunward 7.11, All Smiles, Win Abbey, Waving Corn, Miss Thespian, Madame Louise, Miss Marco, Rosewood, Wigwam, Star Stranger IL,” The Missioner, Kilboy, Joybridge 8.10. President’s Handicap, 9 furlongs.— Set Sail 9.5, Gay Sonnet 8.6, Royal Saxon 8.1, Taboo 7.12, Bilbo 7.7, Gold Brick, Sarnia, Vaward 7.0. Waikaura Trot (harness), 3-40 class, l-i miles. —Star Lady, John Noble, Rose Queen, Nonsuit, Myra Locanda, Wild Bingen, Onoto, Mona Bingen, Erin’s Chance, Patch Junior, Otaio Rose scr., Bessie Huon, John Appear 12, Le Thorpe, Nelson de Oro 24, Wild Nita, Pretty Pointer 60, Streak 72, Glen Farg 84. Flying Handicap, 6 furlongs—Gay Sonnet 9-2, Royal Tractor 7.11, Eaton Bells 7.7, Money Mine 7.7, Martis, Meadow Lark, Equerry 7.10. Hack Handicap, 6 furlongs —First Raid 9.9, Camisader 8.8, Meadow Lark 8.6, Red Sea 7.11, Silver Tray, Pound Note 7.9, Singer, All Comment, Star Stranger 11, Killoma, Filosei 7.0. Landon Trot (saddle), 2.27 class, 14 miles—Star Lady, Cytheria, Admiral Bingen, Onoto, Wild Spur scr., Dan Lor'an 12, Logan Brae 24, Reta McKinney, Red Shiner, Erin’s Lynn, Binaen Patch 48, Free Pointer 60. ° Parkside Handicap. Taboo 9-7, Lucy Locket 9.6, Tripaway 8-11, Arrowy, Money Peer 7.0.

NOTES FROM RICCARTON.

(Special to “Star.")

CHRISTCHURCH, December 6. Hoylake and Desert Song, in charge of T. Lloyd, left this evening for Woodville, where they will race at the forthcoming meeting. At the conclusion of that fixture they will journey on to Ellerslie. Since last sporting silk Hoy lake has made a considerable improvement, and the race at Woodville should see him right on top of his form when stripped at Ellerslie.. Desert Song is a smart galloper and should race prominently in the minor events. Lt has been decided not to race Count Cavour at Ashburton, but Mr. Barrett has every intention of giving the veteran another opportunity in the Auckland Cup. So far he is standing up to his work really well. K Malmsey has thrown off the shin soreness that has been troubling her for some time, and should not be long in picking up a race. Limerick is a regular attendant on the tracks. He may be given a race in tho Hazlett Memorial Stakes at Wingatui nejft February before taking his departure for Sydney. First Sight is training on quite satisfactorily in view of his trip to Ellerslie. He has plenty of friends for the Auckland Cup, but not so many as Hoylake, who will carry the confidence of Canterbury sportsmen. The Derby winner, Nightmarch, is galloping very freely, and will be sent north for the Manawatu meeting. After a lengthy spell Amorist has been put into work again by R. Longley, and is to be given an opportunity of earning fame as a hurdler. Crown Area continues to get through attractive work, and after his race at Ashburton will leave for Auckland to contest the Railway Handicap. . Though the fields at Ashburton on Saturday are rather small, there promises to ha some interesting racing. Only a trio stand their ground in the chief event, and it is only a questfe.H of Sir Roy racing generously to U on hand at the finish. Court Jester and Skyquest should have much to say in the decision of the Winchmmre Handicap, and Great Star is by no means badly treated in the Moreton Handicap. There will be a lot of interest in the meeting between Crown Area and Nightmarch in the Wakanui Handicap, for which the latter is likely to go out favourite.

STAR STRANGER. AUCKLAND, December 7. Star Stranger was scratched at 10.10 a.m. for the Auckland Cup. NEWS AND NOTES. (By Whalebone.) Preparations for the coming summer meeting are in progress at the Greymouth Jockey Club’s course at Omoto. Thirty new stalls are being built to provide for trotters competing at the meeting. The appointments are all being put in order by a staff of carpenters, painters, and outdoor workers.

So far, F. Christmas has not come to a definite decision regarding the holiday programme of Zeuxis. He has been galloping well enough on the tracks to warrant a trip to Auckland, with Red Heckle. His recent race form, however, has not been at all attractive? and this makes his trainer doubtful about the long trip to the north. If Zeuxis settles down and shows his best in public, he will win some good stakes later in the season. In some parts of Victoria unregistered racing is cutting deeply into registered sport. Bearing on this, Dr. McLean, -at the annual meeting of the Traralgon Racing Club, stated that a great deal of Gippsland was being captured by unregistered racing.. There was not a registered meeting in Victoria below Trafalgar. From this it would seem that in some parts of the

Southern State the much-quoted “improyement of the thoroughbred” is scarcely the first thought in connection with racing. Apart from the smaller classes, a large percentage of the horses competing at unregistered meetings anywhere are ‘‘culls” from the registered ranks. The shorter distances help soipe to do better than at registered fixtures, and in the longer races they meet weaker company than at “the horses.” That is the general position, though occasionally but rarely—something racing at unregistered meetings develops form that would give it a chance in good handicaps up to a mile at registered meetings. A. E. Wormaid has two horses in work at present, with a view to holiday ■engagements. Pangolin has built up a lot on the light treatment of his new trainer and looks in excellent order. He had been nominated for the Dunedin meeting, but no definite plans have been made yet. If the weights suit he will go south, but as an altermative he may accompany Spode to the West. Coast.

Gold Bag was turned out in excellent order by G. Orange at Feilding, and it looked as if backers of the Gasbag three-year-old were unfortunate that that' they did not collect a remunerative, first dividend instead of a very consoling second one. On Saturday quite the opposite tactics were adopted, and he dropped too far back, due to misadventure. He finished very fast into second place, and in a few more strides would have beaten Stanchion. It looks as if Gold Bag will run out a middle distance well, and success should soon come his way.

Lysander’s second to Paganelli in the Feilding Stakes was a costly one on an avoidupois basis. At Trentham in October, he was beaten into third place in the open sprint on the second day with 7.9, Arrow Lad, 8.4, and Rereinoana, 9.10, being two heads in front of him. His next run was in the Feilding Stakes, and in the open sprint on Saturday, with 8.11, he was beaten by The Raider, 7.0. He has been weighted in the Railway Handicap at Ellerslie at 8.6, giving 41b to Bright Glow, who gave him 101 b in the Short Handicap at Trentham. On actual figures Lysander has all the worst of it with several othei’ horses, but this is not to say he will not win at Ellerslie, for he has apparently regained his old dash.

Gay Sonnet is booked for a trip to Oamaru next week and she may be raced at the Dunedin meeting after that. She looks well on the comparatively light tasks that are being allotted her.

Beau Geste is training on well and ho should pick up some more stake money this season. His holiday programme is uncertain. He may go south for the Invercargill Cup, in which case he will have the hurdler, Troilus, as a mate. Another possibility is a trip to the West Coast with Waterlow. In either case, Beau Geste is expected to be a Dunedin Cup candidate in February. Hoylake is a shade better favourite for the Auckland Cup than Oratrix, First Sight and Goshawk, with Count Cavour, Laughing Prince, Vertigerr, Mask and Bisox equally fancied. Taranaki reports state that Bisox and Silver Mine have been supported from the right quarter for the Cup and Railway Handicap. W. Rayner has booked accommodation at Ellerslie for Mask, Lysander, Ceremony and Alloy. Staghunter’s form this season has been below expectations, but a Great Northern Foal Stakes winner has nothing to complain about in getting in at the minimum weight. He will be ridden by the crack horseman, T. Green. Paperchase is doing good work at Riccarton, and all going well in the; meantime, will be found racing at Auckland during the Christmas holidays. Paperchase has previously performed with distinction at Ellerslie. The withdrawal of Star Stranger from the Auckland Cup, will leave the Williams colours to be carried by Star God. The latter has a great private reputatipn, and is sure to come into the market for the big two-mile race.

RAILWAY HANDICAP REVIEWED.

The event that most racegoers will look forward to at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, almost as much as the Auckland Cup, will be the Railway Handicap, in which the brilliant Australian-bred galloper, will be seen in action. As was expected the northerner was awarded pride of place, but with all his 9.9 he is going to take a power of beating. Unquestionably he is at present the Dominion’s greatest sprinter, and weight will not bother him so much as it will sdme of his rivals who are close to him in the handicap. But there are several brilliant gallopers engaged, and such wellknown performers as Paganelli, Awarere, Silvermine, Crown Area, Lysander, Joy King, Oration, Consent, Paperchase, Nancy Lee and Goblin Market ajl appear to hold excellent chances. Following is a resume of prospects for Ellerslie’s £l4OO sprint race: —

Aussie, who was a hot favourite for last year’s race, failed with 8.13, but he met with interference that cost him what appeared to be an excellent chance. Awarere, bracketed with him, however, was the winner. Aussie made amends on the second day, when he brilliantly downed a hot field in the weight-for-age King’s I’late, and in cutting the mile out in the fast time of 1.38, he put up a great performance. He has since won under welter imposts, and thoughe he has a big weight on Boxing Day he will most likely go out favourite. Paganelli is considered to be the next best sprinter in New Zealand to Aussie, and with 9.3 he has not been weighted out of the six furlong race. He is equally as brilliant as Aussie, but would be better suited by a five-furlong journey than six, and might be stopped by his big burden at the end of a fast-run six furlong.?. Cimabue, fit and well, must be considered with 8.12, as he can run a brilliant six furlongs. Silver Mine has not been badly treated with 8.12. In the Stewards’ Handicap he carried his 8.4?. like a champion, and worried Childsplay out of first place by half a length. According to reports from the north, he has done well since his return home from Christchurch, and must again take a power of beating. Of those in the division between Sst. and 9st., Crown Area appears to have tho best prospects. With 8.10 he is certainly nicely handicapped, and, provided that all goes well from now on, he might set the opposition a difficult task. Bright Glow was one of the popular picks for the Stewards’ Handicap, and though she ran third to Silver Mine and Childsplay in the big six, she did not show the brilliance that characterised her previous efforts last season. The Day Comet gelding does not appear to be quite in the samo flight as the topnotchers. Lysander appears to be returning to his best form, and if he does, what a great chance he must possess under 8.6. Tea

Time is showing consistency, while Episode is well treated. There are several smart three-year olds engaged who might prove troublesome, and they include Goblin Market, Red Heckle, Consent and White Wihgs. Goblin Market was responsible for an attractive effort when he ran Crown Area to a head in the Jockey Club Handicap at Riccarton. The mere tact of his being an inmate of the Mason stable will gain him many admirers, and racegoers are not likely to forget the surprise that R. J. Mason sprang on them in the Railway Handicap of 1923, when he scored with Parody. The stable also has Golden Armour engaged in this year’s race. Consent bnliiantly defeated a hot field at ITejitham in October, but his form at Riccarton fell below expectations. He is now reported to be back to his propel form, in which case he must have a great chance under 7.4. White Wings, a full sister to Agrion, showed impressive form at Takapuna, and must be considered. Red Heckle is a good sort, and the locally-owned three-year-old might he a possibility under 7.5. His particular mission, however, might be the Great Northern Derby. The race bears a very open appearance, and while Crown Area, Silver Mine and Lysander should run great ra,ces among the top-weights, they might be seriously troubled by Consent, Goblin Market and White Wings. There is also a great beginner called Nancy Lee engaged, who ran second to Awarere last year. During the last five years the lightweights have had a great run in supplying the winner, viz., Parody 6.12, Master Doon 6.9, Reremoana 9.7 and Lady Cavendish 7.10 (a dead heat), High Pitch 7.2 and last year Awarere 7.0. • Staghunter, an Auckland Railway candidate, will be ridden by T. Green.

AMONG THE TROTTERS. Elego, a six-year-old square-gaited mare by Gold Bell from Lady Nola, is back at Epsom after a good holiday, and although she does not look like being ready for Hamilton, trainer Lane is working her along the right lines. For a novice, she showed good promise at the Thames meeting last March.

St. Maura did not return to Christchurch after racing at the Forbury Park Club’s meeting last week, but went to Kurow, to have a spell in hei' owner’s paddocks. Wild Hebe lias never looked better than at present. The angular trotter is going in his best form in training at New Brighton under J. Lorgelly, who evidently thoroughly understands his peculiarities. Admiral Bingen is still being kept at the pacing gait and is doing a lot of his training work in saddle. A G. Wilson usually is his pilot.

Despite his 24 years, Wimmera King is showing a fine turn of speed in his work. It is problematical whether or not the King Harold gelding will start at Hamilton, as R. Millen prefers driving his own charges, and is not in a position to do so this season. King Pointer is handicapped a second better in the Parnell Handicap at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting than he was in the President’s Handicap at Forbury Park. Provided he shows his Oamaru form, again, the Young Star Pointer gelding should prove a hard nut to crack. Satinbird, the speedy, but unreliable aged son of Don Pronto and Lou Dillon, has joined up with J. Bryce’s string at Hornby. Under “Scotty’s” expert care, he will have every chance to prove whether th© high opinions formed of him in the north are correct.

Gold Sovereign may not always be a solid trotter, but he has frequently gone some solid races, and, on his best form, he looks rather well treated in being placed on the limit of a 4.46 class at Hamilton. When he ran second to Direct Action on the opening day at Otahuhu, he was standing the winner up 84yds, and then ran him to half a length, doing the mile end a-half journey in 3min 30 4-5 sec. The trotter, Great Change, who has proved a big disappointment as a racing proposition, has been enjoying a spell since raced at Otahuhu. Gold Jacket is being kept going steadily by L. McMahon. It says much for his training when he keeps the gelding up to concert pitch month after month. Gold Jacket is Auckland’s hope in the Cup, and he promises to be at the top of his form by December 27.

At the conclusion of the recent meeting of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, Mr J. Deyell, the owner of Proud Ata and Nelson Ata, purchased the trotter Nelson’s Prince. He is an aged gelding by Nelson Bingen from Princess Hazel, but at the Forbury Park meeting he raced very badly. Nelson’s Prince looks as though he may develop into a good trotter, although on tho second day he was pacing in his race. He will be trained at Addington.

Firpo looks none the worse for his racing at Forbury Park last week, and he was given useful work without the hopples. Firpo has improved his manners at the barrier since being trained by his owner.

Audience has furnished a good deal of late, but the half-brother to Loganwood does not seem to stay well in his races. He is a useful miler. That good trotter Tamerlane is in the paddock and it is stated that he is none too sound at present. Donard seems to have settled down to solid training work and shows no fractiousness, while he does not pull at all. It remains to be seen how he will shape with the colours up. Acron seems to be quite, sound again. Unfortunately, he slightly injured himself while playing in the paddock recently and he has had to be eased in his work. In being handicapped on a 4.24 mark in the Rowe Trotting Cup, Peterwah has been allotted a formidable task. Such good trotters as Moneyspider, Elzear, Escapade, Peter Swift, Native Star, Young Blake, Trampfast and Sister Beatrice are certain to be capable of making Mr R. C. Fisken’s champion repeat, or break his existing two-mile world’s record .for unhoppled trotters; but there is no saying just what Peterwah’s true quality over the distance is, and as he is also engaged in thei Auckland Cup, it may be reasonable to expect him to show out in one of the two other events. The world’s record for two miles (pacing and trotting) is hold by the square-gaited American gelding, Peter Manning, 4.10.1, who Inade this performance against the watch.